Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-09-26

ssure himself, it seemed to me, than
, reply to any objection, since | had
me.
l shall spare you a description of
he entertainment that followed; the
'asts, the speeches, the adieux.
ach occasions are but repetitions of
ech other. At eleven O'Clock the
Governor retired, and the card tables
ere brought forward. l watched
- somewhat curiously. Are
-os not going?" l asked him. He
heitated a moment. and then replied
q little shame-faced, ''In a moment;
as ,oon as l finish nv cigar"
Ie looked pale. He had counted
9oonuch on his strength. In mo-
nen,he was seized again by his DOM
inanpassion. The noise Of the cards
put Ill good resolutions out of his
mint He hesitated but a moment
and hen approached the ecarte table
at wich l was seated. 1 was play
ing loderately as he first came over
to u. | was in Iuck-a thing quite
unusal. Ny partner, Ensign kerd-
rion had already lost what he had
Within and had gotten up. D.,
withut a word, sat down in the
plac vacated. The stake was one
l01u,to commence with.
looked at this man, not without
a feling Of disgust, whom. although
soun in body and mind, the mere
sigh of card rendered a perjurer
to hs love and to his honor. These
thoghts flashed through my mind,
but hey were powerless to stop me.
1, to. was infatuated with the game,
as al of Us here love it, where, in the
absnce Of salons and theaters. which
che:t ennui by dispelling it, all the
passions are reduced and multiplied
into one only-gambling. Take into
confederation that l saw before me
no ether player. and I accepted D-'s
ofe.
Igained. He doubled. I gained.
He doubled again. l gained again.
He doubled always. 1 gained always.
This persistent bad luck but served
to ezasperate him. Aside from the
cards. he neither saw nor heard any
thing. His whole mind was concen-
trated in his eyes and fingers. He
only spoke in monosyllables.
King. Out. Four TO nothing"
Those in the room began to cluster
about Us. l was known as a good
player. The story of D. was also
all known. They watched for
scene in case he should lose. And
he did lose terribly. Already he had
asked to play on parole. had no
reason to refuse him. Was it fate
that D. gained not one single
game:
At three hours before day he owed
me hundred thousand francs. Then
only did he stop. 1t was his entire
fortune, which, on the chance of
cards. he had lost for the second time.
l raised my eyes to his; he strove to
appear calm, but his frightful pallor
betrayed in spite of him the poignant
anguish that overpowered him.
Doubtless be thought of the Cocotiers,
where even now waited young wife
who could forgive no more. And so
was swept away the present happi-
ness. All the anticipated JOY of the
future, which had been bought at so
dear a price. The wreck was com
plete; not one broken spar escaped
the abyss. Nothing.
The distress Of the unfortunate
man made me sick at heart. / was so
of my gain that / resolved
not 70 redeem the first check. was
about to make known to him my de-
termination without delay, when, TAX
ing from his vest-pocket a small OBJ
iect. he pitched it to me, and in a
-ow voice, but which, in the profound
silence that had fallen, every one
around could hear distinctly, uttered
these characteristic words: "There
s the key to the chamber in which
nv wife sleeps. l stake it against
that which | have lost :"
A confused murmur, full of threat
ening epithets, welcomed his words,
and those near by turned contemptu-
1usly away from D, leaving the
space around him vacant.
Insensible to these universal mani
Of disapproval, D
,oolly placed the KEY on the table
lose to where the stakes were placed,
md turned to me ..Are you ready,
OF what thoughts passed through
nv mind | had no consciousness IN
il it was too late There was an al
most irresistible impulse to throw the
,ey in his face. But the fear Of see
ng her whom | loved again in the
,ower Of this scoundrel, gave me
strength 70 overcome nv disgust.
Then, If / must tell all, / was intoxi-
.ated, carried away in q whirlwind,
possessed to the marrow, by what is
o justly called the demon Of play
moved, too, by ] know not
Fbat secret hope. But all these feel
ngs were merged into one standing
ut clearly, and which nv state u
excitement made II impossible for me
0 resist. ! swallowed at q draught
large goblet If Duuch and fakfpoy